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How does the health and behavior of loons wintering in a pristine, uncontaminated winter environment compare to loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico, a region impacted by the largest offshore oil spill in North American history?

In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, impacting many species of wildlife in the region, including the common loon (Gavia immer). For four years, Earthwatch teams collected data on the health and behavior of loons along the coast of Louisiana, an estuary near the mouth of the Mississippi River. They found that high internal concentrations of oil residues in loon blood affected their body mass and red blood cell volume.

Now, to better understand loon health and behavior, scientists are studying wintering loons in Lake Jocassee, South Carolina – a clear, freshwater ecosystem. You’ll join researchers in this pristine environment, which National Geographic listed as one of the world’s last great wild places, to listen to the haunting, low-pitched call of loons as you capture and tag them at night to assess their health and condition.

Help scientists measure differences in the foraging behavior of loons in a coastal versus freshwater ecosystem, which will enable researchers to better predict and understand what factors might influence their winter survival.

Activity Level

Lead scientists

Accommodations and food

Why the research is important

Why the research is important

This is the first study to examine the wintering behavior of common loons in freshwater environments.

By studying common loons in a pristine environment, scientists can better understand the factors that influence their health and survival in the winter.

Capture and record data on loons before releasing them back into the wild.

Scientists are eager to expand our understanding of the health and condition of wintering common loons, and how it is impacted by a contaminated environment. Although loons typically winter in marine environments along coastlines, some use freshwater reservoirs. Roughly 150 to 200 loons winter in Lake Jocassee.

In addition to loons’ health, the foraging behavior of loons in Louisiana is likely to be very different to that of loons in South Carolina, largely because of the inherent differences between the study sites. Louisiana’s site is a coastal estuary with shallow, turbid water as compared to Lake Jocassee with its deep, clear, and pristine water. The wintering behavior of loons in a freshwater environment has never before been studied. It’s possible that loons at Lake Jocassee will spend more time foraging in groups than in Louisiana, as clearer water would allow them to more easily find schools of fish such as herring.

The results of the research will be used to raise awareness about the likely importance of reservoirs as wildlife habitat, and how to best monitor and manage them. The data will also help to uncover the effects of pollution on the health and condition of loons, which can be used to inform our understanding of the true environmental impact of an oil spill in the future.

About the research area

Lake Jocassee, South Carolina, United States, North America & Arctic

Lake Jocassee is a wilderness reservoir (9000 acres, 90 miles of shoreline) in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains in upstate South Carolina. It is a pristine ecosystem, with four mountain rivers and dozens of creeks that empty into it. There are six named waterfalls that cascade into the lake, and many unnamed ones as well. Lake Jocassee is located in the heart of the Jocassee Gorges, which have been declared by National Geographic as one of the world’s 50 last great wild places. Many Bald Eagles and other waterfowl species are common on the lake in winter.

The Scientists

MEET THE LEAD SCIENTIST

James (Jim)

Paruk

Associate Professor, Biology Department, St. Joseph’s College

ABOUT James (Jim) Paruk

Dr. James “Jim” Paruk is the Senior Scientist at the Center for Loon Conservation at the Biodiversity Research Institute. Jim is investigating the health and behaviors of loons in Lake Jocassee, South Carolina in order to better understand common loon wintering behavior in freshwater and compare it to four years of data Earthwatch teams have collected from loons along the coast of Louisiana.

MEET THE OTHER SCIENTISTS

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations and Food

Villas adjacent to field site;

Collaborative cooking

Devil’s Fork State Park has numerous villas on site, within walking distance of the public boat launch. Each villa is fully furnished and modernized, with electricity, Wi-Fi, appliances, hot water, and toilets. Rooms will be shared with other volunteers. Volunteers will assist in meal preparation and clean-up. Bagged lunches will be brought into the field each day.

“Learning about Loons in their Winter Habitat”

It was an exceptional experience being a part of this amazing research & working with the expert bird scientists every day in the setting of the loon's habitat.

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Howard Goldstein|Monday, March 26, 2018

“Loons in a Unique, Beautiful Environment”

This expedition is a bit challenging in that you spend up to 4 hours on a beautiful lake monitoring loon behavior. The data gathering can get a bit tedious but the observations can be exciting and the environment is magnificent. The team dynamic is a big part of enjoying the experience and I have found on my two expeditions so far that the type of people you interact with is always a joy. The accommodations are wonderful and the fun of the team cooperating in meal prep adds to the overall enjoyment. The science behind the expedition is very interesting and makes the whole expedition experience well worthwhile.

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